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Chapter 42
Jessie
My hand trembles as I dial Vlad’s number. At least it was his number over twelve months ago and I hope he hasn’t changed it. I glance at Shane and Conor who sit at the desk opposite me. They are here with me but they have agreed to let me handle this.
He answers after a few rings. “Jessica?”
“Jessie,” I remind him.
“Of course. My apologies. Old habits die hard,” he says softly. “What can I do for you?”
“What do you know about the brotherhood of the firebird?”
He sucks in a breath and there is a few moments pause before he answers. “As much as you do, I suspect. But why are you asking me this?”
“Because they used to be the Bratva’s elite assassins.”
“Used to be,” he interrupts me.
“And they tried to kidnap me yesterday.”
“What?” he snarls and I feel like I have his undivided attention suddenly. He curses in Russian and talks to someone in the room with him, who I assume is one of his sons.
“What do you know about them, Vlad?” I ask again.
“They have been dormant for years…” he says with a sigh.
“But?”
“Recently we have heard rumors that they are active again.”
“Active? But they are the Bratva’s assassins? And you are the Bratva.”
“This is not the kind of conversation I want to have over the telephone, Jessie,” he snaps.
“Of course,” I say with a shake of my head as Conor and Shane bristle at the change in Vlad’s tone, but I understand his reasons. “Neither do I. Can we meet?”
“Yes, I think that would be wise,” he says immediately and it makes my stomach drop, because that means he knows something bad is going on.
“Can you come to the club? After what happened yesterday, I don’t really feel like leaving the safety of this building.”
“I assume your husbands are listening?” he says.
“We are,” Shane snarls.
“I know you are a man of your word, Mr. Ryan. Can I have your assurances that we won’t be ambushed if I agree to this meeting?”
“You have my word if I have yours that you will come in here unarmed and without your army,” Shane replies.
“My sons will be with me and they will carry a weapon each. I can’t travel unarmed. But they will not use them unless my life is in danger.”
“Fine,” Shane snaps. “Can you be here in two hours?”
“Yes,” Vlad replies and then he abruptly ends the call.
I lean back in my chair and look between Shane and Conor. “He knows something about the brotherhood to agree to meet us like that.”
“Yeah.” Conor nods his agreement.
